We took a Build. time out this weekend to attend a timber framing joinery workshop near Peterborough. A bit of team-building and skill expansion in a craft that appeals to all good carpenters – there is something very appealing about being ab﻿le to form a stru﻿cture from local unprocessed materials, using simple mallet and chisel. No power tools allowed!

Glenn, Ryan and Bob working on their joinery projects.

There is an understated elegance and purposefulness about timber framing. At Build, we have used elements of it in the past for gable and entry details on restorations and additions, and are looking forward to using our expanded skills on larger timber frame projects.

A completed joinery sample.

We are big believers in doing something right the first time – and that includes learning new skills. Our instructor, Mark Davidson of Whippletree Timber Framing, is a passionate and knowledgeable timber framer who enjoys sharing the tradition. Each of us picked up some new found skills and respect for a centuries old craft that cannot help but find its way into our everyday construction work.

Rory McDonnell is a General Contractor, Licensed Carpenter and Architectural Designer with Build, a construction firm in Stratford, Ontario, specializing in new custom homes and renovations.

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Rory McDonnell

I am a licensed carpenter, an experienced general contractor, and a qualified architectural designer. My expertise is in building, restoring, and renovating new custom homes and heritage homes with respect for their inherent details.

I want to share with you my impressions of the good, the bad and the ugly in the construction and renovation industry.